Reviews by Friends of rma288

TheBard says "A Submarine Movie This Bubblehead Can Enjoy" about Crimson Tide

TheBard — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:03:59 GMT

Bottom-Line: Crimson Tide is now one of my favorite must see once-a-year movies.

Directed by action junkie Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire, Spy Game), Crimson Tide revives and old enemy (Russia) for some tomfoolery and high intrigue in the middle of the Pacific Ocean onboard the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine U.S.S. Alabama. The "Bama" has been sent to counter possible first strike moves by a rouge Russian rebel leader who has managed to seize a Russian nuclear base on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the Northwestern Pacific. The U.S.S. Alabama is led by a no nonsense, by-the-book skipper, one Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman ~ A Bridge Too Far, Superman, Mississippi Burning).

The acting executive officer is one Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington ~ Glory, Malcolm X, American Gangster) and almost immediately the two men butt heads. One man is doer, an old-school sub driver, while the other is a thinker a graduate of Annapolis.

The differing leadership...

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TheBard says "Nice To Look At, The Unit Has Problems" about AT&T - Quickfire Cell Phone

TheBard — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:30:51 GMT

The AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset (made by UTStarcom and distributed by PCD) serves up a capacitive touch screen, similar to the one used on the Apple iPhone and the T-Mobile G1. In addition, the sliding handset ships with a full QWERTY keyboard idea for texting, e-mailing, surfing the Internet, or performing Instant message functions.

The AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset ships with a plethora of useful features including a 1.3 megapixel camera, micro-SD media card slot, 500-entry address book, a full HTML Polaris browser, and MP3 player. In addition, the unit ships with stereo Bluetooth, mobile e-mail, instant-messenger support, and A-GPS. With A-GPS, the Quickfire also comes with AT&T Navigator, as well as AT&T's own traffic and turn-by-turn direction service.

First Impressions

I did a considerable amount of research on the AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset before I agreed to purchase it for my off-spring and what I found was not altogether encouraging! The handset has a high failure rate,...

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TheBard says "No New Revelations, But The Movie is Worth the Watch" about Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

TheBard — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:57:06 GMT

Bottom-Line: Before watching Battlestar Galactica: The Plan do watch all four seasons of Battlestar Galactica the (2004) television series; it will make understanding this movie so much easier.

Directed by Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of the attack and its aftermath from the group of (12) Cylons perspective. The Cylon's plan was supposed to be simple: destroy the hated human race in its entirety. But when their devastating nuclear attack upon the colonies leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise and set about destroying the rest.

Two powerful Cylon leaders, both portrayed by Dean Stockwell (JAG, Battlestar Galactica, The Manchurian Candidate); are working separately; one on Occupied Caprica (one of the twelve colonies), the other aboard the Galactica. And both are determined to finish the task at hand. The story is all-too-human in its exploration of how the best laid plans oft go awry.

My Viewpoint

If Battlestar Galactica...

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PattyTherre says "Nothing magic about this air freshener. Didn't last long at all." about Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener (227 Gr.; 8oz)

PattyTherre — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:54:49 GMT

Quick View: This product is natural which is clearly a plus but not only is it big and ugly, it doesn't last long at all. For $6.00, I expect a solid freshener to work for at least a few weeks. I am not at all impressed with Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener.

My Take on Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener

This product comes in a round, white plastic tub with slits in it for the solid freshener inside to release its scent. It's big and ugly so I hide it behind things or put it near the litter box but it doesn't have the power to destroy tough odors like litter box type ones.

I bought the Citrus fragrance. There two others as well. It smelled orangey and decent when I opened the package but it soon faded. It was only fresh smelling for a week or two and then I smelled nothing at all. Now, this is a natural product and does contain charcoal to absorb odors so it could have been doing so without a scent but I didn't feel the house smelled fresher after a couple weeks of using the Citrus Magic Solid...

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JovialCougar says "The lights are on. They must be home." about GE Basic Lamp Timer

JovialCougar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:13:07 GMT

I've heard that leaving a light on in your home when away is a good way to deter a bugler. There's a good chance he would move on to a dark home instead of robbing yours! With that in mind I've been using a GE Basic Light Timer when I am away, to make it look like someone is home.

This timer has no bells and whistles. You just set the current time on a dial, use a series of small tabs to dictate when the light will come on, and plug it in. Once its up and running the light will go On and Off like clockwork.

The timer actually shuts off the flow of electricity to the lamp when the tabs are in the Off position, then allows electricity to flow when it hits the On tabs. So make sure the light switch is left on.

The GE Basic Timer works fine but has some drawbacks. The dial is quite small and the numbers on the dial, representing hours in the day, are small. If your vision is not good, look for a lamp timer with a bigger dial. Also, this timer is only good for 2-prong plugs. It's not...

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TheBard says "I'm Just Not Into This (Very Bad) Movie" about He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

TheBard — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:50:49 GMT

Bottom-Line: He's Just Not That Into You is a humorless, white bread, loaf of a movie that is short on drama as well.

Directed by Ken Kwapis (The Office, The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle) and festoon with an A-Lister's dream of (non-minority) Hollywood actors and actresses, including Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Connolly, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, just to name a few, He's Just Not That Into You chronicles the failing fortunes of a multitude of 20 and 30-something single women juggling relationships.

He's Just Not That Into You is based on the (best-selling) relationship book entitled "Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo.

Despite the who's-who list of Hollywood wattage, and story more or less coalesces around Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin ~ Robot Chicken, Big Love, Ed) who has a hard time holding a man's interest. Could it be that men react this was way she is unbelievably...

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PattyTherre says "Tastes great and good for you too. Eat em up, yum!" about Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins

PattyTherre — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:13:15 GMT

Quick View: My family calls me a fiber freak. And I am. I believe fiber fills you up and keeps you full and it aids in good digestive health. I don't get nearly enough fiber for the most part so I am always on the lookout for foods that boost my intake. Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins have 5 grams of fiber per muffin and taste great. They really are a better start to anyone's day!

My Take on Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins

These English muffins look exactly like regular ones. They come six to a package and need to be sliced into halves to toast. Each weighs 1.8 ounces which is just about what other English muffins weigh.

They taste exactly the same as English muffins at a restaurant or that you buy in a store with little or no fiber in them. At just 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 4 grams of protein, the hefty 5 grams of fiber in every muffin is an added benefit to these low cal, low fat muffins.

I toast them and add fat free cream...

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PattyTherre says "Adidas Tropical Passion is fruity but best for young women." about Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray

PattyTherre — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:45:29 GMT

Quick View: I adore fruity fragrances, especially lemon, lime, and orange scents. When I saw Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray (1.7 ounce) for under $10.00 while shopping online, I added it to my cart. It does smell nice but it's very unsophisticated and the scent fades fast.

My Take on Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray

This fragrance comes in a glass 1.7 ounce bottle and is tinted slightly orange. It has notes of tangerine, melon, pineapple, magnolia, orange blossom, cedar and musk. It sounded like an amazing light scent that I would enjoy. And I do. But the fragrance is very ... unsophisticated for lack of a better word. It is straight up fruity with orange notes being the strongest.It doesn't change as it dries down. In fact, it smells much more like a body mist than an eau de toilette. And it lasts about as long.

Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray is strong to start. It is almost overwhelmingly fruity. It then dries down...

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PattyTherre says "A very good clarifying conditioner that also adds moisture." about Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Conditioner with Shea Butter & Babassu Oil

PattyTherre — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:53:17 GMT

Quick View: I love Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter and bought the conditioner to accompany it. This lemony conditioner adds moisture to dry hair yet keeps build up and weigh down away. My only small gripe is that it doesn't detangle as well as I would like but otherwise, my hair loves it.

My Take on Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Conditioner with Shea Butter & Babassu Oil

This 11 ounce bottle of white conditioner smells as great as the shampoo,. It has natural lemon extract and smells of fresh lemons. There are no parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, or other harsh preservatives or chemicals and no synthetic fragrances or colors, It is 100% vegetarian and cruelty free.

The conditioner is of medium consistency and comes out of the flip cap easily. I need quite a bit because my hair is very long but most people will only need a small amount to cover their hair. The scent is great and stays in my hair after drying which I love.

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Meredith says "Big Star wins!" about Big Star - Chicago, IL

Meredith — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:48:05 GMT

I really love the new Tex-Mex cantina in Wicker Park - Big Star. The owners of Avec started Big Star... nice group. Let's just say I went there 3 nights in a row so it must be good. Located across from The Violet Hour on Damen near Milwaukee. Great vibe, greater food and drinks. I'm in love.

The highlights...

- $2 tacos (chicken, fish, pork, veggie)

- Impressive tequila & bourbon list. Plus, a ginger & beer cocktail that I love. Most cocktails are $7.

- On tap: Goose Island's Matilda ($6), Lagunita lager ($4) & Schlitz ($1)

- Super fresh quacamole, handmade tortillas

- Chill atmosphere, friendly staff

- Good music. They play records. Yes real records on a record player! Mostly rockabilly, old country (think Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash)

Go early-ish for any hope of getting a seat at the bar or seats anywhere, for that matter.

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melrabin says "I'm a convert!" about Apple MacBook Pro 15"

melrabin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:46:09 GMT

I've been a PC user for more than 15 years and while the idea of switching to a Mac always appealed to me, I wasn't gutsy enough to make the change - until now! After leaving my full time job for the life of a marketing consultant about 6 months ago, I decided it was time for a new computer. My husband had been using a Mac for a while and kept telling me that it was so great and that I should switch. I dragged my feet because I was afraid that I'd have to relearn everything I did, but finally decided to give it a shot after talking to several Mac enthusiasts. I'll say that I had a bit of buyer's remorse the first few weeks as I needed to get used to some command and interface changes. But, after about 2 weeks, it felt totally natural. This machine is sleek, fast and so easy to use. I'm finding new Mac applications that I love all the time and I still have a bit of my old world comforts with Office for the Mac. The various shortcuts are great and I LOVE the buttonless touchpad. I encourage...

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steve9631 says "Anyone for oppulance??" about Michelangelo Hotel - Johannesburg, South Africa

steve9631 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:38:30 GMT

As an overnight stop, I kinda like this place. Traveling from the Mpumalanga region of eastern South Africa headed to Zimbabwe, my travel agent booked me into a "safe haven" in the Johannesburg suburb of Sandton. Not to my usual tastes, as I like to get more into the local flavor and hang with the locals, but an easy place to hang out overnight whilst waiting for my flight the next morning. While a little bit hesitant on first arrival, the place grew on me quite quickly.

Check in was smooth. Staff was efficient and cordial. Room was downright impressive. Marble bathrooms elegantly appointed and a comfortable bed. Television was cablized to get the international news and events, and they had free internet. So far so good.

What I hadn't realized is the hotel being connected to a monstrously high end mall with around 600 stores accessible from the hotel lobby. You name it, you could get it in this mall, not to mention scores of restaurants to choose from. Local dishes,...

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melrabin says "The worst customer service - ever" about North & Paulina Cleaners - Chicago, IL

melrabin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:34:09 GMT

My husband and I have been regular customers at North & Paulina Cleaners in the Wicker Park area of Chicago since they opened 4-5 years ago. We have never had a problem there until this past Saturday when my husband picked up his cleaning. All six dress shirts that he had laundered came back with a dark stripe around the top of the collar, very visible even on a black shirt. We don’t know if the damage was caused by heat, by a chemical, or something else in the laundry process, but the shirts appear to be ruined. My husband took the shirts back to show the owner, assuming that at the very least he would offer to re-clean them. Instead, the owner screamed at him to get out of his store and never come back. We have never been treated that way by any person or any business, for any reason. Based on other reviews I have read, this does not appear to be an isolated incident. Considering the number of cleaners in this city, I can’t imagine why anyone would ever step foot...

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Matt says "Chimney Rock Cabernet was not a crowd pleaser but I liked it" about Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon

Matt — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:35:37 GMT

We held a wine tasting in our office yesterday with all of our employees. All age ranges and all different tastes in wine. I thought the Chimney Rock Cabernet was plesant, smooth and packed a punch in the back of your mouth. I would describe it as having a medium body with a hint of plums. I like a nice full body red wine without a lot of tannins that make your mouth pucker. Apparently a few other members of the staff thought the Chimney Rock Cab was a little boring and light for what they expected from a Cab.

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PattyTherre says "Does Schweppes Club Soda taste like soap? This balm does!" about Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick

PattyTherre — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:59:46 GMT

Quick View: I am kind of hooked on the Schweppes lip balms that are out now. I like the Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set I recently purchased so, when I saw that Sephora was selling a Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick for $6.00, I decided to try it. I love club soda and like sticks better than tins. This does hydrate but it tastes like soap. Club soda does NOT have a sweet, soapy scent and flavor!

My Take on Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick

This stick comes in a lipstick tube and is an off white color. It smells soapy. Club soda really doesn't have a taste per se and I was wondering how they would flavor something that really isn't flavored. I guess they decided to go with soap...

The balm does slick on my lips nicely and is creamy. It gives my lips a light sheen, nothing too shiny. I can feel the moisture and it does add hydration. The SPF 15 is a plus.

But the taste is really soapy. It is like a combination of sweet and soap. I don't sense any club soda...

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JovialCougar says "I expected better from a Cuisinart" about Cuisinart 4-cup coffee maker

JovialCougar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:53:12 GMT

I wish I had done more research before buying my latest coffee maker. Instead I snapped up a Cuisinart 4 Cup Coffee Maker based on my perception of the brand and its appearance. And while this coffee maker is not bad, it does have some drawbacks.

First off, this coffee maker looks nice. It has a stainless steel carafe and the rest of the unit is black. The compact size and design would probably look nice in many modern kitchens. The stainless steel carafe is also very durable. I also give Cuisinart credit for making hot coffee fairly quickly. The temperature is just about right for warming me up in the morning.

On the downside, the Cuisinart 4 Cup Coffee Maker continues to drip if you remove the carafe and the brewing process is not 100% complete. I hate that! My previous coffee maker had a shut-off feature when you removed the carafe. Also, when pouring from the carafe it sometimes dribbles down the side. I guess the spout is not designed quite right.

Some other annoying...

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PattyTherre says "I honestly can't think of a use for the Cozy 2 Heated Blanket." about Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt

PattyTherre — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:36:31 GMT

Quick View: I am always cold. Obviously my family members know this, even distant ones, because I received a Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt as a gift last Christmas. I thought I would love a car blanket but I don't. I never use it.

About the Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt

This blanket is 40" long x 56" wide. It is made of polyester fleece and is thin and lightweight. Attached to the blanket is a 6'3" cord that plugs into a car, RV, or boat cigarette lighter. The blanket takes 10 minutes to "heat up" and should only be used for an hour at a time. It should not be used when the vehicle is not running as it will drain the battery.

We travel fairly often by car and I thought the blanket would come in handy when we traveled in the cool weather. The problem is that we always have the heat on in the car since I am not the only one who gets cold and I am usually very comfortable. Still, now and then, a blanket is a nice extra.

The Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket is quite wide. It seems to be...

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TheBard says "I wanted enjoy this movie more than I did" about The Wrestler

TheBard — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:51:13 GMT

Bottom-Line: After all the hype surrounding The Wrestler, I expected more.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain, Requiem For a Dream) The Wrestler chronicles the failing fortunes of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson a once successful professional wrestler who now lives alone in a rented trailer, works part-time at a super market and wrestles at small venues on the weekends.

My Viewpoint

The wrestling moves and action sequences took me back to yesteryear. Yes, I have long since given up the ritual, but I can still remember the signature moves, the back and forth of the opponents seeking the upper hand. The move captures that magic all over again with startling realism. Ram's body truly dies take a beating, but he keeps coming back for more. He knows wrestling is all there is for him; life has lost its meaning outside the comfortable cocoon.

And therein lies the problem with The Wrestler, Ram is not smart and neither is the movie. The movie is predictable and that...

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PattyTherre says "Clarifies and moisturizes hair to bring out its best qualities!" about Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter

PattyTherre — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:49:16 GMT

The Dilemma: Your hair has a lot of build up from styling products and the elements. But if you use a deep cleansing shampoo, it will dry out your hair and be too harsh for it. The Solution: Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter. Deeply cleanse your hair and scalp and ADD moisture at the same time. And the scent is amazing!

My Take on Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter

I read a review about this shampoo and conditioner and wanted to try it. I use lots of styling products and love to get my hair and scalp deep down clean. However, having very long hair that has been highlighted and heat styled kept me from using clarifying shampoos more than very rarely. Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter adds moisture as it deep cleanses so I can even use it everyday with no damage and no drying out of my hair.

The shampoo comes in an 11 ounce bottle. It is cruelty free and free of parabens. It has 100% vegetable ingredients. It has no harsh...

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TheBard says "Never Trust Two White Guys with White Gloves" about Funny Games (American Version)

TheBard — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:58:55 GMT

Bottom-Line: Funny Games, for me, failed to shock, failed to thrill, and failed to entertain, despite the always perfect performance by one Ms. Naomi Watts.

Written and directed by German-born Michael Haneke Funny Games starts innocently enough as a family of three-mom (Naomi Watts), dad (Tim Roth), and son (Devon Gearhart)-settle into their vacation home on a lake. Not long after the groceries are put away and the boat is assembled two psychotic young men Paul and Peter (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet respectively) in white gloves a-come calling under the pretext of wanting to barrow some eggs.

And so the "funny" games begin. Ann (mom) demands the two young men leave, they don't. George (dad) comes home and demands same and gets a driver to the knee for his insistence. And the violence escalates from there...

My Viewpoint

Funny Games is a remake of a German movie of the same name, where of course the same sadistic things happen to an Austrian family. At times the movie...

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